Chef and whisky master blender pair up in Great Northern Producer celebration

July 6, 2018

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Celebrated chef and restaurateur Terry Laybourne has teamed up with Dhavall Gandhi the master blender at the Lakes Distillery to showcase great Northern food and cooking alongside unique whiskies from Cumbria.

This food and drink celebration is one of the highlights of a series of foodie summer events ‘Inspired By’ Great Exhibition of the North in Newcastle.

Great food and drink producers are being showcased at exclusive evenings at Porterhouse Butcher and Grill in Fenwick Food Hall during July. These are a creative partnership between Fenwick Newcastle and Terry Laybourne.

The first producer event – on the evening of July 23 – focuses on the great new whiskies coming out of the award-winning Lakes Distillery, near Bassenthwaite Lake, Cumbria.

Dhavall Gandhi, the master blender at the Lakes Distillery and the perfectionist behind the creation of the first single malt whisky produced in the Lake District, has jointly designed a menu that pairs whiskies with food, boutique wines and other spirits.

The evening will highlight the flexibility of whisky, how it can be mixed and also presented and drunk in less traditional ways, as well as used in cooking. The format of the exclusive evening at Porterhouse will include:

Penicillin Cocktail as an aperitif

Lindisfarne oyster with whisky soda served in a wine glass, using the new Lakes Distillery ‘Steel Bonnets’, the first ever Scotch and English malt blend

Smoked salmon croquet monsieur, with a salad and selection of wines

‘Whisky-aged’ beef short ribs served with wine

Whisky and cheese pairing

During the evening Dhavall will outline the philosophy at the Lakes Distillery, explain the making of the different whiskies, the pairings and also offer some of his own anecdotes around whisky.

Terry Laybourne said: “The Great Exhibition of the North is an ideal backdrop to celebrate the many great chefs from the North while also showcasing some of the fabulous food and drink producers that are available within the region.

“Our chefs at Porterhouse have developed creative menus to promote the flavours and qualities of this produce along with the perfect drinks pairings. It’s a unique opportunity for people in the region to sample great cooking while also being able to meet and talk to the chefs and food producers in an informal, intimate setting.”
Great Northern Producer events include:

 23rd July – Dhavall Gandhi, Whisky led dinner with the one of the spirit industries brightest lights and head Whisky Maker at The Lakes Distillery. Tickets £75
 30th July – Peter Hannan, World Famous Himalayan Salt Aged Beef. Tickets £65.

Terry said: “We’re passionate about our products and the producers we work with. We know where the animals are from – which estates, which farms – we know how they were fed and brought up and we know how the meat was prepared and aged. It’s all about having a genuine respect for a quality process and good animal husbandry.

“Great cooking relies on not just great food and ingredients but producers who are passionate about their animals and quality of their meat.”